Bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility

ABSTRACT

A bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility may include a counter and a cabinet. The bathroom vanity can be used by both normal and handicapped users. In one embodiment, when the cabinet is moved away from the counter, a space is created underneath the counter for the wheelchaired user to operate the wheelchair to enter it. The height of the counter can be determined according to the height of the wheelchair and the user. Also, the pipes connected to the faucet of the counter can be all hidden in the wall so there is no obstacle in front of the user when the wheelchair is moved into the space. Since the wheels are disposed underneath the cabinet, the cabinet can be easily moved back to its original position underneath the counter, even for the wheelchaired user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/300,664, filed on Feb. 26,2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bathroom vanity, and moreparticularly to a bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One or more basins or sinks are often mounted in countertops found inlavatories, kitchens and similar settings. Particularly in a lavatory orbathroom, such a combination of a sink and countertop is sometimes knownas a “vanity.” The conventional structure of a sink installation of thistype comprises a flanged basin that rests in an opening in a horizontalpanel functioning as the countertop. The countertop is generallyrelatively thick, e.g., 2 to 4 cm., and can be made of stone (e.g.,marble or granite) or simulated stone product, and can be solid orlaminated. A variety of materials are available which can receive or becombined with attachable basins, integral basins, backsplashes, bullnoses and other features.

Such a countertop is typically supported on a cabinet having walls ordoors that extend vertically downward from a point flush with thelateral edge of the countertop or leaving only a slight overhang. Thisstructure presents accessibility problems for wheelchair occupants.

Moreover, as the rights of the handicapped have received greatersupport, restrooms and their components have evolved to become morehandicap accessible. A handicap-accessible or “ADA (Americans withDisabilities Act) compliant” restroom will typically have wider thanordinary doors which allow a wheelchair to pass through, and at leastone oversize toilet stall with grab bars for use by the handicapped.Truly handicap-accessible restrooms have other features including a rampor lift device to access the restroom and shower in a wheelchair, andplacement of water valves and other restroom accessories at a height bywhich they may be reached from a wheelchair. Recent emphasis has beenplaced on making public facilities accessible to handicapped persons,including persons in wheelchairs. However, most homes, hotel rooms,apartments, and the like are for non-handicapped people, unless suchbuildings are specifically constructed for handicapped persons.

Additionally, a person may unexpectedly become seriously handicappedwhile living in a house or apartment which was not constructed, orinadequately constructed, to accommodate seriously handicapped persons.This happens, for example, when a person sustains a debilitating injury,becomes frail due to age, is struck with illness, or the like. When thisoccurs, it is often quite difficult and expensive to radically modify anexisting building to include bathroom facilities for accommodating thenewly handicapped person.

Thus, it is desirable to construct a handicap-accessible bath facilityin a home or building that can be easily installed when needed andremove it later. Such a need arises when a person is either terminallyill or temporarily both of which happen fairly often. U.S. Pat. No.4,899,402 (the '402 patent) provides a handicap-accessible bath facilitywhich can be relatively easily and inexpensively installed when a personbecomes :handicapped but which can also be relatively easily andinexpensively removed when it is no longer necessary to have such afacility. However, instead of removing the entire handicap-accessiblebath facility as disclosed in the '402 patent, it may be more desirablefor a bathroom vanity that can be used by normal people and with minoralteration, it can also be used by handicapped people.

Various bathroom vanities with wheelchair accessibility have beendeveloped to provide ample room for wheelchair access to the sink.However, even with adequate room to approach the sink, for a personconstrained to a wheelchair, the simple task of washing one's hands canbecome quite arduous when one is forced to unduly reach and strain touse the faucet assembly located on the rearward ledge of the sink. Thisis particularly the case if the user has any weakness or handicap in thearms. Also, most vanities with wheelchair accessibility lack aestheticvalue because it needs an enlarged space underneath the sink for thewheelchair, and the sink may have to separate with the cabinet or evenwithout the cabinet, as shown in FIG. 1.

Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved design for abathroom vanity to provide wheelchair accessibility without sacrificingthe aesthetic value thereof to overcome the problems presented above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bathroom vanitythat can be used by both normal and handicapped people withoutsacrificing its aesthetic value.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bathroomvanity having a counter and a cabinet right underneath, and the cabinetcan be easily moved away to create a space for wheelchaired users.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bathroomvanity having a counter and a cabinet right underneath, which can beconsidered an integrated single unit.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant bathroom vanity.

In one aspect, a bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility mayinclude a counter and a cabinet. In one embodiment, the counter mayinclude a top surface and a basin. The counter may also include a frontsurface and two side surfaces. The cabinet, which is located underneaththe counter and against an adjoining wall, may include a plurality ofdrawers/doors and a plurality of wheels disposed at a bottom portion ofthe cabinet. In one embodiment, the wheels may further include a lockingunit to lock the wheels to prevent further movement of the cabinet. Withthe wheels, the cabinet can be easily moved away from the counter whenneeded. In one embodiment, the cabinet may be moved through a remotecontrol device. The cabinet also has two cabinet side surfaces, andfront surfaces of the drawers can be considered the front surface of thecabinet.

In an exemplary embodiment, the bathroom vanity can be used bywheelchaired users. When the cabinet is moved away from the counter, aspace 400 is created underneath the counter for the wheelchaired user tooperate the wheelchair to enter it. The size of the counter and theheight of the counter to the floor can be determined according to theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is important to note that thepipes connected to the faucet of the counter can be all hidden in thewall so there is no obstacle in front of the user when the wheelchair ismoved into the space. For old houses where the pipes cannot be hidden,an accommodating space can be created on the backside of the cabinet toaccommodate the pipes. Since the wheels are disposed underneath thecabinet, the cabinet can be easily moved back to its original positionunderneath the counter, even for the wheelchaired user. In oneembodiment, the cabinet can also be placed next to the counter afteruse.

In another embodiment, the bathroom vanity can be used by normal peoplewho can stand. More specifically, the cabinet can be disposed rightunderneath the counter, wherein the side surfaces can be substantiallyaligned with the cabinet side surfaces, as well as the front surface ofthe counter and the front surface of the cabinet. Namely, when thecabinet is right underneath the counter, the entire bathroom vanity isconsidered a single piece with high aesthetic value. In anotherembodiment, the counter can be longer than the cabinet, so the cabinetcan be disposed anywhere underneath the counter.

In a further embodiment, a normal user can also use the vanity when thecabinet is moved away from the counter. The cabinet can be moved rightnext to the counter, so the user can decorate the bathroom by puttingsome decorations on a top surface of the cabinet, which can alsoincrease the aesthetic value of the vanity as well as the bathroom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art disclosing a wheelchair accessible worksurface.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematic view of a bath vanity with wheelchairaccessibility in the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of the bath vanity with wheelchairaccessibility having a movable cabinet in the present invention.

FIG. 3a illustrates a schematic view of the bath vanity with wheelchairaccessibility having a movable cabinet from another view angle in thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofthe presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects ofthe present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms inwhich the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to beunderstood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and componentsmay be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended tobe encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devicesand materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used inthe practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devicesand materials are now described.

All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purposeof describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologiesthat are described in the publications that might be used in connectionwith the presently described invention. The publications listed ordiscussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely fortheir disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application.Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors arenot entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow,the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes reference to the pluralunless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in thedescription herein and throughout the claims that follow, the terms“comprise or comprising”, “include or including”, “have or having”,“contain or containing” and the like are to be understood to beopen-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. As used in thedescription herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of“in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. For example, a first element could be termed asecond element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a firstelement, without departing from the scope of the embodiments. As usedherein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one ormore of the associated listed items.

In one aspect, referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 3 a, a bathroom vanity withwheelchair accessibility 200 may include a counter 210 extending from anadjoining wall 300 with a predetermined height from the floor, and acabinet 220. In one embodiment, the counter may include a top surface211 and a basin 214. The counter may also include a front surface 213and two side surfaces 212 and 212′. The cabinet 220, which is locatedunderneath the counter 210 and against an adjoining wall 300, mayinclude a plurality of drawers/doors (221, 222) and a plurality ofwheels 223 disposed at a bottom portion of the cabinet 220. In oneembodiment, the wheels 223 may further include a locking unit to lockthe wheels 223 to prevent further movement of the cabinet 220. With thewheels 223, the cabinet 220 can be easily moved away from the counter210 when needed. In one embodiment, the cabinet 220 may be moved througha remote control device. The cabinet 220 also has two cabinet sidesurfaces 224 and 224′, and front surfaces of the drawers 221 and 222 canbe considered the front surface of the cabinet 220.

In an exemplary embodiment, the bathroom vanity 200 can be used bywheelchaired users. When the cabinet 220 is moved away from the counter210 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3 a, a space 400 is created underneath thecounter 210 for the wheelchaired user to operate the wheelchair to enterit. The size of the counter 210 and the space 400, and the predeterminedheight of the counter 210 to the floor can be determined according tothe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is important to note thatthe pipes connected to the faucet of the counter 210 can be all hiddenin the wall so there is no obstacle in front of the user when thewheelchair is moved into the space 400. For old houses where the pipescannot be hidden, an accommodating space can be created on the backsideof the cabinet 220 to accommodate the pipes. Since the wheels 223 aredisposed underneath the cabinet 220, the cabinet 220 can be easily movedback to its original position underneath the counter 210 as shown inFIG. 2, even for the wheelchaired user. The cabinet 220 can also beplaced next to the counter 210 after use as shown in FIG. 3.

Still referring to FIG. 2, in another embodiment, the bathroom vanity200 can be used by normal people who can stand. More specifically, thecabinet 220 can be disposed right underneath the counter 210, whereinthe side surfaces (212, 212′) can be substantially aligned with thecabinet side surfaces (224, 224′), as well as the front surface 213 ofthe counter 216 and the front surface of the cabinet 220. Namely, whenthe cabinet 220 is right underneath the counter 210, the entire bathroomvanity is considered a single piece with high aesthetic value. Inanother embodiment, the counter 210 can be longer than the cabinet 220,so the cabinet 220 can be disposed anywhere underneath the counter 216.

In a further embodiment, a normal user can also use the vanity 200 whenthe cabinet 220 is moved away from the counter 210. As shown in FIG. 3,the cabinet 220 can be moved right next to the counter 210, so the usercan decorate the bathroom by putting some decorations on a top surface225 of the cabinet 220, which can also increase the aesthetic value ofthe vanity 200 as well as the bathroom.

Having described the invention by the description and illustrationsabove, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the inventionand are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention isnot to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, butincludes any equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibilitycomprising: a counter extending from an adjoining wall with apredetermined height and a receiving space created therebelow, having acounter front surface and two counter side surfaces; and a cabinetlocated at the receiving space underneath the counter, having a cabinetfront surface, two cabinet side surfaces and a plurality of wheelsunderneath the cabinet, wherein the cabinet is configured to move awayfrom the counter to enable a wheelchair user to enter the receivingspace, and the cabinet can be moved back after the wheelchair userleaves, and the bathroom vanity appears as one unit when the counterfront surface is substantially aligned with the cabinet front surface,and each cabinet side surface is substantially aligned withcorresponding cabinet side surface.
 2. The bathroom vanity withwheelchair accessibility of claim 1, wherein the cabinet includes aplurality of wheels disposed at a bottom portion thereof.
 3. Thebathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 2, wherein eachwheel has a locking unit to lock the wheels to prevent further movementof the cabinet.
 4. The bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility ofclaim 3, wherein the cabinet includes one or more drawers.
 5. Thebathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined height of the counter to the floor and size of thereceiving space are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA).
 6. The bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 1,wherein the counter includes a top surface and a basin.
 7. An ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant bathroom vanity withwheelchair accessibility comprising: a counter extending from anadjoining wall with a predetermined height and a receiving space createdtherebelow, having a counter front surface and two counter sidesurfaces; and a cabinet located at the receiving space underneath thecounter, having a cabinet front surface, two cabinet side surfaces and aplurality of wheels underneath the cabinet, wherein the cabinet isconfigured to move away from the counter to enable a wheelchair user toenter the receiving space, and the cabinet can be moved back after thewheelchair user leaves, and the bathroom vanity appears as one unit whenthe counter front surface is substantially aligned with the cabinetfront surface, and each cabinet side surface is substantially alignedwith corresponding cabinet side surface.
 8. The ADA-compliant bathroomvanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim 7, wherein the cabinetincludes a plurality of wheels disposed at a bottom portion thereof. 9.The ADA-compliant bathroom vanity with wheelchair accessibility of claim8, wherein each wheel has a locking unit to lock the wheels to preventfurther movement of the cabinet.
 10. The ADA-compliant bathroom vanitywith wheelchair accessibility of claim 9, wherein the cabinet includesone or more drawers.
 11. The ADA-compliant bathroom vanity withwheelchair accessibility of claim 7, wherein the counter includes a topsurface and a basin.